Switch stand



July 3, 1934.

G. M. COOPER El' AL SWITCH STAND Filed May l2. 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l l vENToRs ear K M. Um er- 8541111116] Z. Ea: farm ATTORNEYS July 3, 1934. G. M. COOPER Er AL 1,964,721

SWITCH STAND Filed May 12. 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 VENTORS Patented `uly 3, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SWITCH STAND Application May 12, 1932, Serial No. 610,810

8 Claims.

The invention relates to switch stands, such as are used for operating railway switches.

According to the invention, the switch stand may comprise a casing having a vertical body and a iiat base adapted to be attached to the railroad ties alongside of the switch to be operated.

According to a preferred form of the invention a safety block may be journalled in the body, having a star-block at its lower end and locking recesses at its upper end. Journalled within this safety block may be a sp-indle having a locking block attached thereto. A handle may be pivoted to the locking block for operating the switch stand and adapted to cooperate with the above mentioned recesses for locking the switch stand.

If desired, suitable slidable devices may be provided in the base engaging the star-block whereby a train trailing the switch against the switch points may operate them without damage to either the track equipment or the switch stand.

The invention also consists in certain new and original features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages and the manner in which it may be carried out, may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which Fig. 1 represents a vertical section through the switch stand with the switch half thrown by a train;

` Fig. 2 is a detail side elevation illustrating the construction of the upper end of the stand;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the upper end of the switch stand; and

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1 with the covers removed.

In the following description and in the claims, various details will be identified by specific names for convenience, but they are intended tobe as generic in their application as the art will permit.

Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

1n the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification, certain specific disclosure of the invention is made for purposes of explanation, but it will be understood that the details may be modiiied in various respects without departure from the broad aspect of the invention.

Referring now toV the drawings, the switch stand comprises a casing 10 made up of a base 11 and a body 18. The base 11 may be provided with attaching flanges 12 having spike holes 13 for securing the switch stand to a pair Yof railroad ties adjacent the switch as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

The base 11 is provided with a bottom wall 14 and side Walls indicated in general by 15. The body 18 is secured to the base by bolts 17 and nuts 117. Positioned over the lower end of the body 18 and over the ends of the base 11 are covers 16 secured in position by nuts 118 threaded on the bolts 17. The casing is so formed at this point as to provide a water tight enclosure for the mechanism within, as disclosed in detail in patent to Eastburn No. 1,783,283, granted December 2, 1930.

Journalled within the tubular body 18 is a sleeve or safety block 19 having at its lower end a star-block 22 and at its upper end an enlarged portion 20 having four equispaced recesses 29. The recesses 29 have depending flanges 129 connected to the plate top by braces 130. The enlarged upper end 20 is provided with a depending skirt or flange 21 to prevent ingress of water.`

Journalled within the safety block 19 is a spindie 25 extending all the way through the switch stand. This spindle is journalledin the base at 26 and provides a bearing for a lower end of the safety block 19 at 22. The spindle 25 has a bearing at 27 with the upper end of the safety block 19 and is provided with a reduced square upper end 28 adapted to project somewhat above the switch stand and to support either a target or signal lamp or both (not shown).

The spindle 25 is provided with an arm 50 at its lower end having a portion threaded into the end of the spindle and an opening 51 for attachnient to a connecting rod (not shown) adapted to extend to the switch points as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

Secured to the square upper end 28 of the spindle by a nut and bolt 32 is a locking block or sleeve, having a circular disc portion 30 and a depending skirt or flange 33 extending over the enlarged upper end 20 of the safety block 19 to prevent ingress of water at this point. The sleeve is provided with a housing portion 34 in which is positioned the end of operating or locking lever 35. The sleeve is also Vprovided with an upper projection 31 providing a step by which a workman can climb up the switch stand to attend to the target or light which may be carried at the top.

This operating lever is pivoted within the housing 34 by a nut and bolt indicated by 36. The operating lever 35 is provided with an apertured ear 37 passing through a slot 137 in the wall of the housing 34. The apertured ear 37 is adapted to receive a padlock or other suitable locking device (not shown) to lock the operating lever 35 in position. Slot 137 is provided with a ribbed lower edge 38 which prevents the operating lever 36 from dropping out of the switch stand when the padlock is in position should the nut and bolt 36 fall out. It will be understood that the operating lever 35 engages in a recess 29 to lock the switch stand in thrown position.

The star-block 22 is provided with a cam surface comprising corner projections 24 having recesses 23 therebetween. The star-block is resiliently held in position by a pair of rollers 40 engaging in the recesses 23. These rollers may be journalled in carrier members 41 which engage springs 42 which resiliently press the rollers 40 against the star-block. These rollers and carrier members are suitably guided so as to work back and forth when the star-block is operated. This construction is similar to that disclosed in patent to Snow and Kidd No. 881,969 patented March 17, 1908.

Normally the lstar-block 22 is in such position that the rollers 40 are fully engaged within the recesses 23 and the operating arm 35 is in a depending position in a recess 29,` holding the switch points in the position desired. When it is desired to operate the switch points, the padlock passing through the ear 37 is removed, allowing the operating lever to be raised to the position shown in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 1. This disengages the operating lever from the recess 29 and allows it to be moved manually through an angle of 90. This rotates the spindle 25 and operates the switch points, the safety block 19 remaining stationary. When the switch points are thrown to the other position, the operating lever 35 is in register with the recess 29. The operating lever is then lowered and the switch stand is locked in position.

To operate the switch stand from the thrown position to the first position, the above described operation is reversed.

If a train trails the switch points when the switch points are not set to pass the train, the train will operate the switch points, causing the spindle 25 to rotate 90. Since the spindle is locked to the safety block 19 by means of the locking lever 35, the safety block 19 and starblock 22 will also rotate 90, carrying with them the lever 35. The springs 42 will permit this operation and resiliently engage the next pair of recesses 23, yieldably holding the star-block in the new position.

If it is desired to return the switch points to the position they were in before the train passed, the operating lever 35 must be raised and the switch points operated manually by rotating the operating lever to the next recess 29. Y

Thus it will be seen that so long as the switc points are not operated by a train, the operating lever 35 will alternately engage the same two adjacent recesses 29 as the switch is thrown manually from one position to the other. If, however, the switch points are operated by a train, the safety block 19 and locking recesses`29 are rotated 90 to a new comparatively fixed position. Thus the hand lever always occupies a position depending on the position of the switch points irrespective of whether operated by hand or by the train. The safety block 19 occupies a comparatively fixed position and is only moved to a new position by a train. When this happens, a new recess 29 is engaged by the lever 35 to lock the switch when it is manually returned to its original position. Thus it becomes necessary to have four locking recesses 29.

Thus a switch stand has been described which is simple in construction. The switch stand permits the throwing of heavy switches with ease, because of additional leverage and minimum of friction, which features are accomplished by the improved arrangement above described. The switch stand is made of few parts which are rugged and will not easily get out of order.

Lost motion is reduced to a minimum by reducing the number of sleeves in the vertical portion of the switch stand and the working parts are of such shape and size as to permit closer fitting in the shop and facilitating interchangeability of parts. This insures proper focus of the switch lamp in either position of the switch.

In addition, the switch stand provides for positive hand operation and positive locking of the switch points in either thrown position. The switch stand may be thrown automatically by a train trailing the switch points without interfering with the operation of the switch stand or without damage to it.

While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

los'

1. In a switch stand, a casing, an upright spindle passing through said casing, means attached to said spindle to operate a switch, a sleeve secured to said spindle, a handle secured to said a base, an upright spindle passing through said.

casing and adapted to carry a signal at the top thereof and having means at the bottom for operating a switch, a locking block secured to `said spindle, a hand lever pivoted to said locking block, a safety block surrounding said spindle and being journalled within said casing, said safety block carrying four locking recesses in which said hand lever is adapted to engage when it is in lowered position, said safety block carrying a starblock having four recesses and spring pressed members in said base engaging said recesses.

3. In a switch stand, an upright casing having a base, an upright spindle passing through said casing, means attached to the lower end of said spindle to operate a switch, a locking block secured to said spindle, a handle pivoted to said locking block, a safety block directly surrounding said spindle and directly journalled in said casing, the upper end of said safety block having recesses adapted to engage said handle when in lowered position, said handle clearing said re- .cured to said spindle, a handle pivoted to said locking block, a safety block directly surrounding said spindle and directly journalled in said casing, means in said base for holding said safety block in substantially stationary position, the upper end of said safety block having recesses adapted to engage said handle when in lowered position, said handle clearing said recesses when raised to upper position to throw the switch.

5. In a switch stand, an upright casing having a base, an upright spindle passing through said casing and adapted to carry a signal at the top thereof, a crank arm attached to the lower end of said spindle and adapted to operate a switch, a sleeve secured to said spindle, a handle pivoted to said sleeve, a safety block directly surrounding said spindle and directly journalled in said casing, the upper end of said safety block having recesses adapted to engage said handle when in lowered position, means on said block for locking said handle in lowered position, said handle clearing said recesses when raised to upper position to throw the switch and yieldable means in said base for holding the lower end of said safety block whereby a train trailing the switch will turn said spindle and target.

6. In a switch stand, a support, a spindle mounted on said support and having means for operating a switch, a sleeve secured to said spindle and having a housing, said sleeve and housing being movable with said spindle, a hand lever having its end positioned in said housing, a pivot passing through the walls of said housing and said lever, said lever having an apertured ear, said housing closely enclosing the upper portion of said lever and having a slot through which said apertured ear may project to lock the switch stand, said slot having a lower wall whereby the lever will be held in position even though the pivot is lost, and a locking member for engaging said handle when in locking position.

'7. In a switch stand, an upright casing having a base, an upright spindle passing through said casing and adapted to carry a signal at the top thereof and having means at the bottom for operating a switch, a sleeve secured to said spindle and having a housing, a hand lever having its end positioned in said housing, a pivot passing through the walls of said housing and said lever, said lever having an apertured ear, said housing having a slot through which said apertured ear may project to lock the switch stand, said slot having a lower wall whereby the lever will be held in position even though the pivot is lost, a safety block surrounding said spindle and being journalled within said casing, said safety block carrying four recesses between which said hand lever is adapted to engage when it is in its lowered position, said safety block carrying a star-block having four recesses, and opposed spring pressed members in said base engaging said recesses.

8. In a switch stand, a support, a member mounted on said support and having means for operating a switch, a rotatable sleeve having a single ear-receiving opening and secured to said member, a hand lever, pivot means securing said lever to said sleeve, a locking member secured to said support for engaging said lever when the latter is in locking position, an apertured ear secured to said lever adapted to project through said ear-receiving opening, said ear-receiving opening having a lower edge whereby a padlock or the like passed through said apertured ear prevents loss of said hand lever even though said pivot means fails, said hand lever being movable with said sleeve, said ear-receiving opening also being movable with said sleeve to be in a position to receive said ear in any thrown position of the switch stand.

GEORGE M. COOPER. SAMUEL L. EASTBURN. 

